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Consultation Question Builder

Select the questions most relevant to your consultation. Copy your selection to share with a coordinator or bring to your appointment.

Surgeon credentials

Are you a member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS)? Recommended KSPRS requires a 5-year specialty residency and certification exam. Approximately 2,100 certified surgeons practise in Korea — membership is a minimum verification floor, not a quality guarantee.

How many of this specific procedure have you performed in the past 12 months? Recommended Volume correlates with complication rates for most procedures. Ask for the number, not a qualitative answer ('many' tells you nothing).

May I see before-and-after photos of patients with a similar starting anatomy to mine? Recommended Surgeons should be able to show 10–20+ unedited photos relevant to your case. Curated marketing portfolios are less informative than a case series.

What additional fellowships, training, or subspecialty experience do you have for this procedure? Some surgeons have additional training abroad (USA, Europe) or subspecialty focus. This is informational — not a prerequisite — but helps you understand their background.

Who will perform the surgery — you personally for the entire procedure, or will other surgeons assist or take over at any stage? Recommended Ghost surgery — where a different surgeon substitutes without patient consent — is illegal in Korea since the 2016 CCTV law. Confirm the named surgeon performs the full procedure.

Technique & approach

Which specific technique do you recommend for my anatomy, and why? Recommended A surgeon who recommends the same approach to every patient regardless of anatomy is a red flag. Ask them to explain the anatomical reasoning specific to you.

What are the alternatives to the technique you are recommending, and why are you choosing this approach over them? Recommended Good surgeons can articulate trade-offs. If they cannot name alternatives or explain the choice, that is concerning.

What is your complication rate for this procedure, and what are the most common complications you see? Recommended Every surgeon has complications. A surgeon who claims zero complications either operates rarely or is not being honest. Ask for the specific types they have seen.

Will you use cartilage grafts? If so, from where — ear, rib, or synthetic material? Relevant for rhinoplasty, ear reconstruction, and some revision cases. Each source has different properties, longevity, and donor-site implications.

How do you handle revision cases, and what proportion of your revisions are from your own prior surgeries versus other surgeons? A small revision rate from one's own prior surgeries is expected and not shameful — surgeons who never see revisions may be selecting easier cases or losing patients to follow-up.

Safety & facility

Is this facility CCTV-equipped in the operating theatre, and will I receive footage on request? Recommended Operating theatre CCTV has been mandatory in Korean medical facilities since 25 September 2021. Patient consent is required to view footage — a facility that cannot confirm compliance is a red flag.

Who administers the anaesthesia — a certified anaesthesiologist (마취과 전문의) or the operating surgeon? Recommended The NFS autopsy study (2016–2024) identified concurrent monitoring failure and propofol administered by operating surgeons as recurring factors in 50 procedure-related deaths. An independent anaesthesiologist is safer.

Is this facility accredited by KOIHA (Korea International Healthcare Association)? Recommended KOIHA accreditation (~350 facilities as of 2024) requires patient safety, quality, and international patient management standards. It is an added reassurance, not an absolute guarantee.

What is the emergency protocol if I have a serious complication during or after surgery? Recommended Smaller clinics may not have on-site ICU or emergency equipment. Ask specifically what happens if you stop breathing or your blood pressure drops — not just 'we call an ambulance'.

Does this facility have admitting privileges at a full-service hospital if an overnight stay or emergency is required? Most cosmetic procedures in Korea are performed in outpatient clinics, not hospitals. Knowing the escalation pathway matters if complications arise outside hours.

Recovery & aftercare

What is the minimum number of days you recommend I stay in Seoul before travelling home? Recommended Flying too early can cause swelling, DVT risk, and inability to access your surgeon if complications arise. Get the surgeon's specific minimum, not the clinic's minimum.

What follow-up appointments are included in my package, and what happens if I have complications after I return home? Recommended Some clinics include 1–2 follow-up appointments; many charge separately. Know what is and is not included, and what the remote follow-up protocol is.

What restrictions apply specifically to long-haul flights after this procedure? Recommended Different procedures have different protocols. Rhinoplasty with closed nostrils and air pressure changes, or blood clot risk after jaw surgery, may affect when you can safely fly.

Will you provide a written post-operative care instruction sheet in English (or my language)? Recommended Verbal instructions are easy to forget or misremember. Written instructions are essential for patients travelling home to non-Korean-speaking countries.

If I need a revision procedure, what is the policy — timeframe, cost, and whether it is performed by you or another surgeon? Minor revision rates for some procedures (especially rhinoplasty) are 5–15%. Knowing the policy upfront removes ambiguity.

Costs & contracts

Is this a fixed all-in price, and what is explicitly excluded (anaesthesia, compression garments, post-op medications, follow-up visits)? Recommended Quoted prices in Korea sometimes exclude anaesthesia fees (₩300K–₩700K depending on procedure length), compression garments, and post-op medication. Confirm what is included in writing.

What is the deposit amount, what triggers forfeit of the deposit, and what is the cancellation/rescheduling policy? Recommended Deposits are standard (typically 10–30% of surgery cost) and non-refundable in many cases. Understand the conditions before paying.

Is the quoted price in Korean Won, and is it guaranteed not to change at the time of surgery? Recommended Some clinics quote in USD for international patients, then the rate changes. Confirm the KRW price and lock it in writing.

What additional costs should I budget for that are not included in the surgery quote? Common extras: compression garments (₩100K–₩300K), prescription medications (₩100K–₩200K), laser scar treatments, and additional follow-up consultations.

Communication

Will the same coordinator or English-speaking contact be available to me from booking through to discharge? Recommended Communication gaps between coordinators are a common source of patient dissatisfaction. A single named contact creates accountability.

How do I reach you or the clinic if I have a complication at 2 AM, and what is the response time? Recommended After-hours complications are rare but serious. Know the protocol — a general office number with no after-hours service is inadequate for surgical patients.

Is a professional interpreter provided at all appointments, or am I expected to manage with a translation app? Medical interpretation for consent and post-op instructions requires professional accuracy. Translation apps miss nuance. Ask who specifically provides interpretation.

Methodology

Questions are compiled from Korean patient safety literature, KSPRS guidance, the NFS autopsy study (2016–2024), and KOIHA accreditation standards. The 'recommended' flag indicates questions with the highest safety or outcome significance for international patients.

Education, not medical advice Fact-checked per our Editorial Standards · corrections policy applies · always confirm specifics with a board-certified surgeon Last verified
2026-07-28

Where to go next

Go deeper Safety hub

Understand the framework behind these questions — accreditation, ghost surgery, anaesthesia standards.

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Score a clinic before you book — credential verification, safety, contracts.

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How to structure your consultation visit and what to arrange before you arrive.

Consultation Question Builder

🏅 Surgeon credentials

🔬 Technique & approach

🏥 Safety & facility

🗓️ Recovery & aftercare

₩ Costs & contracts

💬 Communication